JP3188104B2 - Recording medium exchange device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording / reproducing apparatus for recording / reproducing a recording medium such as an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a DAT (Digital Audio Tape Recorder) tape, a DCC, and a compact cassette tape. And a recording medium exchange device.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a recording medium exchange device of a recording / reproducing apparatus for selecting and recording an arbitrary one from a plurality of recording media such as a magneto-optical disk, a disk (recording medium) is manually stored in a magazine (storage shelf). And a magazine is mounted on a recording medium exchange device, and the recording / reproducing unit and the transport device or the transport device are moved up and down to select a recording medium.

There has also been a recording medium exchange apparatus for selecting a recording medium to be played by moving a magazine up and down to adjust the position of an arbitrary recording medium to a recording medium in / out position of a transport device.

In order to mount a recording medium on a recording / reproducing unit,
FIG. 20 shows an example of a conventional recording medium conveying device for moving a recording medium up and down and moving horizontally in a conveying device for conveying the recording medium. In the figure, a shaft 1a, 1b is provided upright on a carrier 1 which locks and conveys a recording medium, and these shafts correspond to guide grooves 2a, 2b of a chassis 2 and a slider 3 respectively.
Grooves 3a, 3b. The slider 3 is supported by the chassis 2 so as to be movable in the horizontal direction, and is driven in the horizontal direction by a driving device (not shown).

FIG. 20A shows a state in which the slider 3 has moved to the left end, at which time the carrier 1 is at the upper left position. When the slider 3 moves rightward from the position shown in FIG. 20 (a), the carrier 1 is pushed by the groove of the slider 3 and guided by the guide groove of the chassis 2 so that the carrier 1 is positioned at the right end as shown in FIG. 20 (b). Moved to

When the slider 3 moves further rightward from the position shown in FIG. 20B, the carrier 1 is pushed by the groove of the slider 3 and guided by the guide groove of the chassis 2, and
It is moved to the lower right position as shown in FIG. By moving the slider 3 to the left, the carrier 1 is moved on a path opposite to the above.

[0006]

In the above-described conventional recording medium exchange apparatus, the transporting apparatus requires a large space as a moving path in order to move within the height range of the recording medium stored in the magazine. There was a problem that the whole became large. Also, a device that raises and lowers a magazine requires a space approximately twice as high as the magazine.

Further, even when only one recording medium stored in a magazine is exchanged, there is a problem that it takes time and labor since the magazine must be taken out and the recording medium must be exchanged.

Also, if the magazine is removed during the performance and the disk is replaced, the space for the playing disk may be blocked, so that the replacement of the disk during the performance is prohibited.

The conventional transfer device shown in FIG.
Is provided with two guide grooves whose horizontal portions are parallel to each other, so that the size of the guide portion of the chassis 2 in the height direction is increased, and there is a disadvantage that the space utilization efficiency is poor.

[0010] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium exchanging apparatus which accommodates a large number of recording media and does not require much space in the apparatus. It is in.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium exchanging apparatus in which only one recording medium can be easily exchanged and can be performed even while the recording medium is being played. Still another object of the present invention is to improve the space utilization efficiency of a recording medium transport device used in the recording medium exchange device.

[0012]

According to the present invention, there is provided a recording medium exchanging apparatus, wherein a holder for holding a recording medium is vertically overlapped and held at a first position and a second position via a partition member. First and second carriers which move horizontally and vertically downward and upward, respectively, over a first position and a second position, and a holder in which the first carrier is locked at a first position. When pushing up, the holder superimposed on the first position is lifted to lock the uppermost holder to the second carrier, and then the second carrier is moved horizontally and then moved downward, and Synchronized first
After moving the carrier downward, the carrier is moved in the horizontal direction, and the lowermost holder superimposed on the second position is locked to the first carrier by the downward movement of the second carrier. The first carrier is moved in the horizontal direction and then moved upward. In synchronization with this, the second carrier is moved upward and then moved in the horizontal direction to lock the uppermost holder to the second carrier. By repeating the operation of causing the holder to circulate, the opening of any holder can be aligned with the entrance of the recording medium of the recording / reproducing unit, and the holder overlapped with the first position and the second position. Are provided rotatably in the vicinity of each of the above and biased by a spring, and the lever is rotated by the movement of the holder held by the first and second carriers. The holder is configured to engage or disengage with a hole of the holder, and the holder overlapped with the first position or the second position is held by the protrusion of the lever when the carrier is separated. It was done.

In the recording medium exchange apparatus, the first and second carriers are rotated at a stop position where the first and second carriers are horizontally moved in order to synchronize the movement with the first and second carriers. , So as to prevent interference between the locking claw of the carrier and the holder.

In each of the recording medium exchange devices,
A guide groove for guiding the carrier by engaging with a shaft erected on the second carrier is formed so that a vertical guide groove is continuous with a tip of the horizontal guide groove and an intermediate portion thereof, and the second carrier is provided with the horizontal guide groove. A shaft that engages with each of the grooves and the respective vertical guide grooves is provided, and the axes of the carrier that engages with the vertical guide grooves connected to the ends of the horizontal guide grooves are two adjacent shafts or wide shafts, and the axes are horizontal. It is prevented from dropping into the vertical guide groove connected to the middle of the guide groove.

Further, in the recording medium exchanging apparatus, the guide grooves for guiding the carrier by engaging with the shaft provided on the second carrier are arranged such that the vertical guide grooves are continuous with the leading end of the horizontal guide groove and the middle thereof. The second carrier is provided with a shaft that engages with the horizontal guide groove and the respective vertical guide groove, and a lower surface of the horizontal guide groove is formed outside the entrance of the vertical guide groove that is continuous with the middle of the horizontal guide groove. An extension plane of the same plane is provided, and the extension plane supports an axis of the carrier that engages with the vertical guide groove connected to the tip of the horizontal guide groove, so that the axis falls into the vertical guide groove connected to the middle of the horizontal guide groove. Is prevented.

[0016]

According to the recording medium exchange apparatus of the present invention, the holder holding the recording medium is circulated so as to move one pitch at a time, so that any holder can be aligned with the entrance of the recording medium of the recording / reproducing unit. Can be selected for recording and reproduction.

Since the holder for holding the recording medium is circulated, it is only necessary to provide a moving space for each holder above and below, and the space required is smaller than that of the conventional one. Further, since any holder holding the recording medium can be moved to the entrance of the recording medium to the outside of the housing, any recording medium can be exchanged without taking out the holder. In addition, since the entire magazine is not taken out unlike the conventional one, it is possible to replace the recording medium during reproduction by prohibiting the insertion of the recording medium during reproduction into the holder. .

In the case where the holder is held by the engagement between the protrusion of the lever provided near the overlapped holder and the hole of the holder, the lever is rotated by the movement of the holder to release the engagement with the holder. Therefore, the frictional resistance when the stacked holders move up and down is small.

Furthermore, the first and second carriers are configured to rotate at the stop position where they are horizontally moved, so that the holder introduction range of the locking portion of the carrier when the holder is pushed into the carrier is increased. Thus, interference between the locking portion of the carrier and the holder can be prevented.

In the case where the guide groove for guiding the carrier is formed such that the vertical guide groove is continuous with the front end of the horizontal guide groove and the middle, the two leading shafts of the carrier are close to each other or are wide. Alternatively, since it is supported by an extension plane flush with the lower surface of the horizontal guide groove, it passes without falling into the intermediate vertical guide groove. In this case, since there is only one horizontal guide groove, the height of the carrier and its guide portion can be reduced.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A recording medium exchange apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a main part of a magneto-optical disk exchange apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The chassis 2 and the chassis 4 in the figure are
It is fastened so as to be integrated with the 0, 11 and the partition plate 12 therebetween.

The shaft erected on the carrier 1 passes through the guide grooves 2a of the chassis 2 and the guide grooves 4a of the chassis 4, and the carrier 1 is guided by these guide grooves.
Similarly, the shaft erected on the carrier 5 passes through the guide groove 2b of the chassis 2 and the guide groove 4b of the chassis 4, and the carrier 5 is guided by these guide grooves.

The shaft of the carrier 5 has grooves 6a, 6
are also engaged, and the carrier 5 is driven by the movement of the slider 6. The drive mechanism of the slider 6 is shown in detail in FIG. Guide groove 8 of slider guide 8 shown in FIG.
Shafts 6b, 6b erected on the slider 6 are engaged with a, 8b, and the slider 6 is slidably supported by the slider guide 8.

The slider 6 is connected via a fastening member 6c to a timing belt 21 laid between a pulley 20 and a pulley integral with the gear 9 rotatably supported on a shaft erected on the slider guide 8. The slider 6 is fastened and is fed by the rotation of the gear 9. Similarly, the slider 3 is slidably supported by the slider guide 7 and is fed by rotation of the gear 9. Then, the carrier 1 is driven by the slider 3.

The slider guides 7 and 8 are respectively provided on the side plates 10.
And 11 at the top and bottom. As shown in FIG. 13, each of the gears 9 meshes with a gear fixed to the drive shaft 25.

The partition plate 12 is made of a resin, and leaf springs 22, 23 and 24 are fixed as shown in FIG.
The locking portions 12a are provided so as to be elastically deformable. The lever 13 shown in FIG. 1 is rotatably supported on the side plate 10 via bearings 15 and 16, and
a, 13b and a release arm 13c are provided integrally. As shown in FIG. 10A, the lever 13 is urged by the tension coil spring 26, and is normally located at a position where it is stopped by the stopper, that is, the position shown in FIG. 10A.

The lever 14 shown in FIG. 1 is also rotatably supported by the side plate 11 via bearings 15 and 16, and is provided integrally with an engaging arm and a releasing arm, and is urged by a tension coil spring. I have.

The details of the members for supporting and driving the carrier 1 are shown in FIGS. As shown in detail in FIG. 5, the carrier 1 is provided with shafts 1a to 1c and shafts 1d to 1f erected on opposing side surfaces thereof. FIG.
The distance between the center of the axis 1e and the center of the axis 1f shown in part A of (b) is X
Is larger than the width Y of the middle vertical guide groove of the guide groove 2a of the chassis 2 shown in FIG.

Referring to the exploded perspective view of FIG. 4, the shaft 1a of the carrier 1 passes through the groove 3a of the slider and the guide groove 2a of the chassis 2. Also, the shafts 1b, 1 of the carrier 1
“c” passes through the groove 3 b of the slider and the guide groove 2 a of the chassis 2. Similarly, the shaft 1d of the carrier 1 is provided with the groove 3c of the slider.
And the guide groove 4 a of the chassis 4, and the shafts 1 e and 1 f of the carrier 1 pass through the groove 3 d of the slider and the guide groove 4 a of the chassis 4.

When the slider 3 is driven rightward from the state shown in FIG. 7A, the carrier 1 is pushed by the groove of the slider 3 and guided by the guide groove of the chassis 2 to move rightward. As shown in FIG. 7 (b), when the shaft 1c comes over the middle vertical guide groove, the shaft 1b is supported by the horizontal guide groove, and the shaft 1c passes over the middle vertical guide groove without falling into the middle vertical guide groove. pass. Similarly, when the shaft 1b comes over the intermediate vertical guide groove, the shaft 1c is supported by the horizontal guide groove.
Passes over the middle vertical guide groove without falling.

When the carrier 1 moves to the right end in this way, as shown in FIG. 7 (c), the shaft 1a is located above the intermediate vertical guide groove, and the shafts 1b and 1c are located at the tip vertical guide groove. Come on. Further, when the slider 3 moves rightward, as shown in FIG. 7D, the carrier 1 moves downward while being guided by the intermediate vertical guide groove and the distal vertical guide groove.

FIG. 6 shows the shafts 1b and 1c and the shafts 1e and 1
The modification of f is shown. 6 (a) and 6 (b), a member having an oval cross section is used instead of these shafts.
6 (c) and 6 (d) use a member having two shafts connected by a thin portion. These members function similarly to the shafts 1b and 1c and the shafts 1e and 1f shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing still another modification. On one side of the carrier 1, three shafts are erected in the same manner as shown in FIG. 4, and these shafts are guided in the same manner as shown in FIG. A single shaft is provided on the other side surface of the carrier 1, and the shaft is guided by an L-shaped guide groove of the chassis 4. Even with such a configuration, the carrier 1 can be driven in the horizontal and vertical directions while keeping its posture constant.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 17 denotes a magneto-optical disk.
Are held between the side plate 10 and the partition plate 12 in a state of being overlapped with four, and are held between the side plate 11 and the partition plate 12 in a state of being overlapped with four. Furthermore, holder 1
One carrier 7 is held by either the carrier 1 or the carrier 5, and a total of nine holders 17 exist in the apparatus, and these holders are circulated so as to move by one pitch as described later.

As shown in FIG. 9, the holder 17 has a rectangular frame shape, into which the optical disk 18 is inserted.
Leaf spring 17b provided on holder 17 and magneto-optical disk 18
The positions of the magneto-optical disk 18 in the holder are determined by the engagement of the recesses 18a provided in the cartridge.

FIG. 10 shows the operating state of the lever 13. FIG. 10A shows a state in which the holder 17 is separated from the lever 13, and the lever 13 has been rotated by the tension coil spring 26 to a position where it is stopped by the stopper. At this time, the engagement arms 13a and 13b of the lever 13 project into the engagement holes 17a of the holder 17 shown in FIGS. 1 and 9, and the plate springs 22, 22 and the locking portions 12a, 12 shown in FIG.
In cooperation with 12a, the lever 13 holds four holders 17, 17,... Between the partition plate 12 and the side plate 10.

As shown in FIG. 10B, when the carrier 5 moves to the left end position, the release arm 1 of the lever 13 is released.
3c is pushed by the holder locked by the carrier 5 and rotated counterclockwise, so that the engagement between the engagement arms 13a and 13b of the lever 13 and the engagement hole of the holder is released.

When the carrier rises from that position, FIG.
0 (c), the holder 1 held by the carrier
7 is separated from the release arm 13c of the lever 13 and the lever 13
Is rotated by the elastic force of the tension coil spring, and the engagement arms 13a and 13b of the lever 13 are again
7a.

When the carrier 5 is lifted, the four holders between the side plate 10 and the partition plate 12 are pushed up by the holders locked on the carrier 5. Next, when the carrier 5 descends, these holders are held as described above and do not descend with the carrier.

Similarly, the lever 14 is rotated by the upper carrier 1 to engage and disengage the four holders 17, 17,... Between the partition plate 12 and the side plate 11. The carrier 1 transports the holder locked to the side plate 11 and pushes down the four holders together with the holder.

In FIG. 1, the positions of the second holders from the bottom of the four holders between the partition plate 12 and the side plate 10 correspond to the openings 2c and 4c of the chassis 2 and the chassis 4, respectively.
And in the left-right direction and the height direction.

As shown in FIG. 11, between the chassis 2 and the disk insertion slot 50a of the housing front panel 50, a first transfer section for transferring the magneto-optical disk between the disk insertion slot and the storage section (holder). A is disposed between the chassis 4 and the recording / reproducing section 19, and a second transport section B for transporting the magneto-optical disk between the storage section (holder) and the recording / reproducing section 19 is disposed.

FIG. 11A shows a schematic configuration of the first and second transport units. The first transport section A includes the feed roller 30 and the push-out arm 34, and their supporting devices and driving devices. The feed roller 30 is rotatably supported by a support member rotatably supported by the chassis, and is urged downward by a spring. A guide roller is rotatably supported at a position facing the feed roller 30.

The pushing arm 34 is mounted on a cam follower supported on a rack 36. The cam follower is composed of a holder, a slider slidably supported by the holder, and a spring. The holder is mounted on a rack 36, and an extruding arm 34 is mounted on the slider. The slider is pressed against the cam 39 by the elastic force of the spring. When the rack 36 moves leftward due to the rotation of the gear 37 meshing with the rack 36, the push-out arm 34 moves leftward together with the rack 36 and is guided by the cam 39 to ascend. When the rack 36 moves rightward, the push-out arm 34 moves rightward with the rack 36 and is guided by the cam 39 to descend.

The second transport section B includes feed rollers 31, 32,
33 and the push-out arm 35 and their supporting and driving devices. The feed roller 31 is rotatably supported by a support member rotatably supported by the chassis, and is urged downward by a spring. A guide roller is rotatably supported at a position facing the feed roller 31. The feed rollers 32 and 33 are rotatably supported by a support member rotatably supported by the chassis, and are urged downward by a spring. A guide roller is rotatably supported at a position facing the feed roller 32.

The pushing arm 35 is attached to a cam follower supported by a rack 36, like the pushing arm 34. When the rack 36 moves rightward due to the rotation of the gear 37 meshing with the rack 36, the push-out arm 35 moves rightward together with the rack 36 and is guided by the cam 40 to rise. When the rack 36 moves to the left, the pushing arm 35 is moved.
Moves to the left along with the rack 36 and is guided by the cam 39 to descend.

The feed rollers 30, 31, 32, 33 and the gear 37 are driven to rotate by the same drive source, but the gear 37 is rotated by a limited torque from the drive source.
When the solenoid 38 is deenergized, it is stopped by the brake arm urged by a spring even if the drive source rotates. The recording / reproducing unit 19 includes a loading device 41 which holds the magneto-optical disk and descends to be mounted on a turntable of a disk motor.

FIG. 11A shows feed rollers 30, 31, 3
2 and 33 show a state where the magneto-optical disk 18 is not inserted into the holder 17 at a height at which the magneto-optical disk 18 is fed. FIG. 11B shows a state where the magneto-optical disk 18 is inserted from the disk insertion slot. At this time, the controller of the apparatus stores that the magneto-optical disk is not inserted into the holder 17 into which the magneto-optical disk 18 is inserted, or that the magneto-optical disk held by the holder is not recording or reproducing. When the micro switch (not shown) is operated by the support member of the feed roller 30, the motor of the drive source rotates to drive each feed roller clockwise.
At this stage, the solenoid 38 is not energized and the rack 36 is not driven.

When the feed roller 30 feeds the magneto-optical disk 18 to the holder 17 and a microswitch (not shown) detects this, the solenoid 38 is energized and the rack 36 is driven. Then, the push-out arm 34 becomes the cam 3
9 and moves up to the moving path of the magneto-optical disk, and further moves in the direction of the holder 17 to move the magneto-optical disk to the holder 1.
Send it completely into 7. The state is shown in FIG.
When the push-out arm 34 is retracted from this state, the holder becomes movable, and another holder can be moved to the magneto-optical disk entry / exit position.

In order to load the magneto-optical disk to the recording / reproducing position of the recording / reproducing section 19, the push-out arm 34 is further fed from the position shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 12A, the magneto-optical disk 18
When is pushed out by the push-out arm 34 to a position where it is bitten by the feed roller 31, the rack 36 hits a stopper and stops, and a microswitch (not shown) is operated to deenergize the solenoid 38. When the feed roller 33 feeds the magneto-optical disk 18 into the loading device 41 as shown in FIG. 12B, the loading device 41 operates to lower the magneto-optical disk 18 and mount it on the turntable of the recording / reproducing unit. .

When the recording / reproduction is completed, the loading device 41 raises the magneto-optical disk 18 to the position shown in FIG.
, And the rack 36 is further driven. Then, the pushing arm 35 is guided by the cam 40, rises to the moving path of the magneto-optical disk, further moves toward the holder 17, and completely sends the magneto-optical disk 18 into the holder 17. The state is shown in FIG.

To push out the magneto-optical disk from the holder 17 through the disk insertion slot, the push-out arm 35 is further fed from the position shown in FIG. Then, the magneto-optical disk 18 is bitten by the feed roller 30, the rack 36 hits a stopper and stops, and a microswitch (not shown) is operated to deactivate the solenoid 38.
Thereafter, the feed roller 30 feeds the magneto-optical disk 18 toward the disk insertion slot, and the magneto-optical disk 18 can be taken out by hand.

Next, the circulating operation of the holder will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 13A shows an initial position of each holder in the apparatus. The holder into which the magneto-optical disk can be inserted or ejected in this state is the holder 17B. First, the operation of moving the holder 17A to the position of the holder 17B, that is, the position where the magneto-optical disk is inserted or ejected, will be described.

The driving shaft 25 is driven by a driving device (not shown).
Is rotated, the slider 3 and the slider 6 move to the left at the same speed. Then, since the right end of the guide groove of the chassis extends downward, first, the shaft 5b of the carrier 5 is
The carrier 5 is lifted up to the same height as a, and the claws of the carrier 5 are hooked on the holder 17I as shown in FIG. Meanwhile, carrier 1 has been rising. Thereafter, the carrier 5 locks the holder 17I and carries it to the left.

FIG. 13C shows a state in which the shaft 5a of the carrier 5 is located at the center A of the vertical guide groove on the left side of the chassis. At this time, the shaft 5b of the carrier 5 is at the center position of the vertical guide groove in the middle of the chassis, and the lever 13 is rotated by the release arm 13c being pushed by the holder 17I to rotate with the holders 17A to 17D. The engagement has been released.

When the sliders 3 and 6 further move to the left, the carrier 5 is moved together with the holder 17I to the holder 17A.
Push up ~ 17D. On the other hand, the left axis of the carrier 1 is guided by the short vertical guide groove on the left side of the chassis and rises, and the right axis is stopped by engaging with the horizontal portion of the groove of the slider 3. Tilt as shown in a).
Thereafter, each shaft of the carrier 1 engages with the horizontal portion of the groove of the slider, and the carrier 1 stops.

While carrier 1 is stopped, carrier 5
Rises and pushes up the holder 17D to a position where it is locked by the carrier 1. Then, as shown in FIG. 14A, the release lever 13c of the lever 13 separates from the holder 17H, and the lever 13 rotates to hold the holders 17H to 17C.
This state is detected by a microswitch (not shown), and the rotation of the drive shaft 25 is stopped.

Thereafter, the drive shaft 25 is driven in reverse. Then, the slider 3 and the slider 6 move rightward at the same speed, and first, the left axis of the carrier 1 is lowered to the same height as the right axis 5a, and as shown in FIG. Hangs on the holder 17D. Thereafter, the carrier 1 carries the holder 17D to the right end as shown in FIG. During this time, the carrier 5 moves rightward after descending.

After the carrier 5 further moves to the right end,
The state shown in FIG. 13A is tilted. The carrier 1 moves to the right end and then descends to move the holder 17D to the position shown in FIG.
Push down to the position of the holder 17E shown in FIG. Then, the carrier 1 and the carrier 5 are in the initial state shown in FIG. 13A, the holders are moved by one pitch, and the holder 17A is moved to the magneto-optical disk insertion and ejection position. By repeating the above operation, an arbitrary holder can be moved to the magneto-optical disk insertion / ejection position.

Since the holder can be moved during recording / reproducing of the magneto-optical disk, it is possible to exchange any magneto-optical disk during recording / reproducing. In this case, the control device stores the holder holding the magneto-optical disk during recording and reproduction, and the magneto-optical disk is controlled so as to be ejected to the holder. Also, insertion of the magneto-optical disk into the holder is prohibited.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, only the guide portion of the carrier 1 shown in FIG. 4 is different, and the other portions are the same as those of the embodiment described above. As shown in detail in FIG. 17, shafts 1a and 1b and shafts 1c and 1d are erected on opposite sides of the carrier 1 at positions facing each other. Axis 1
b and 1d are longer than the shafts 1a and 1c.

Referring to the exploded perspective view of FIG.
The shaft 1a of the carrier 1 passes through the groove 3a of the slider and the guide groove 2a of the chassis 2. The shaft 1b of the carrier 1 passes through the groove 3b of the slider and the guide groove 2a of the chassis 2. Similarly, the shaft 1c of the carrier 1 passes through the groove 3c of the slider and the guide groove 4a of the chassis 4, and the shaft 1d of the carrier 1
Is inserted through the groove 3d of the slider and the guide groove 4a of the chassis 4.

As shown in detail in FIG. 16, a projection 2d is provided adjacent to the upper part of the vertical guide groove in the middle of the guide groove 2a of the chassis 2. The upper surface of the projection 2d is the guide groove 2.
a coincides with the lower surface of the horizontal portion.

When the slider 3 is driven rightward from the state shown in FIG. 18A, the carrier 1 is pushed by the groove of the slider 3 and guided by the guide groove of the chassis 2 to move rightward. As shown in FIG. 18 (b), when the shaft 1b comes over the middle vertical guide groove, the shaft 1b is supported on the upper surface of the projection 2d, and the shaft 1b does not fall into the middle vertical guide groove. Pass through.

When the carrier 1 moves to the right end in this way, as shown in FIG. 18C, the shaft 1a is placed on the middle vertical guide groove, and the shaft 1b is placed on the tip vertical guide groove. come. Further, when the slider 3 moves to the right, the carrier 1 is guided by the intermediate vertical guide groove and the distal vertical guide groove and moves downward as shown in FIG.

FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view showing a modification of the above embodiment. On one side of the carrier 1, two shafts are erected in a manner similar to that shown in FIG.
Are guided in the same way as shown in FIG. A single shaft is provided on the other side surface of the carrier 1, and the shaft is guided by an L-shaped guide groove of the chassis 4. Even with such a configuration, the carrier 1 can be driven in the horizontal and vertical directions while keeping its posture constant.

[0067]

According to the recording medium exchange apparatus of the present invention,
Since the holder for holding the recording medium is circulated, it is only necessary to provide a moving space for one holder above and below, and the space required is smaller than that of the conventional one.

Further, since any holder holding the recording medium can be moved to the entrance of the recording medium to the outside of the housing, any recording medium can be exchanged without taking out the holder. In addition, since the entire magazine is not taken out unlike the conventional one, it is possible to replace the recording medium during reproduction by prohibiting the insertion of the recording medium during reproduction into the holder. .

In the case where the guide grooves for guiding the carrier are formed such that the vertical guide grooves are continuous with the leading end of the horizontal guide groove and the middle of the guide grooves, two leading carrier shafts are close to each other or wide. Alternatively, since it is supported by an extension plane flush with the lower surface of the horizontal guide groove, it passes without falling into the intermediate vertical guide groove. In this case, since there is only one horizontal guide groove, the height of the carrier and its guide portion can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a main part of a magneto-optical disk exchange device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a part of the magneto-optical disk exchange device.

3 (a) is an exploded perspective view showing a part of the magneto-optical disk exchange device, and FIG. 3 (b) is a perspective view showing an assembled state of parts shown in FIG. 3 (a).

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a part of the magneto-optical disk exchange device.

FIG. 5A is a plan view showing the components of the magneto-optical disk exchange device upside down, and FIG. 5B is a side view showing the components upside down.

6 (a) is a partial plan view showing a modification of the component shown in FIG. 5, FIG. 6 (b) is a partial side view showing the modification, and FIG. 6 (c) is the component shown in FIG. FIG. 6D is a partial side view showing the modification, and FIG. 6D is a partial side view showing the modification.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing an operation of a portion of the magneto-optical disk exchange device.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing a portion of a modification of the embodiment.

9A is a plan view showing a holder used in the magneto-optical disk exchange device, FIG. 9B is a front view showing the holder, FIG. 9C is a side view showing the holder, FIG.
(D) is a plan view showing the magneto-optical disk held by the holder.

FIG. 10A is a plan view showing a part of the magneto-optical disk exchange device, FIG. 10B is a plan view showing another state of the part shown in FIG. 10A, and FIG. ) Is FIG.
It is a side view showing other states of the portion shown to (b).

FIG. 11 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a magneto-optical disk transport unit used in the magneto-optical disk exchange device.

FIG. 12 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a magneto-optical disk transport unit used in the magneto-optical disk exchange device.

FIG. 13 is a side view showing an operation state of the magneto-optical disk exchange device.

FIG. 14 is a side view showing an operation state of the magneto-optical disk exchange device.

FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view showing a part of a magneto-optical disk exchange device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

16A is a front view showing components used in the embodiment, FIG. 16B is a side view showing the components, and FIG.
FIG. 17C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC in FIG.

FIG. 17A is a plan view showing the components used in the embodiment upside down, and FIG. 17B is a front view showing the components turned upside down.

FIG. 18 is a side view showing the operation of the part of the magneto-optical disk exchange device of the embodiment.

FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view showing a portion of a modification of the embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a side view showing an example of a conventional recording medium transport device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 carrier 2 chassis 3 slider 4 chassis 5 carrier 6 slider 7, 8 slider guide 9 gear 10, 11 side plate 12 partition plate 13, 14 lever 15, 16 bearing 17 holder 18 magneto-optical disk 19 recording / reproducing unit 20 pulley 21 timing belt 22 , 23,24 Leaf spring 25 Drive shaft 26 Tension coil spring 30,31,32,33 Feed roller 34,35 Push arm 36 Rack 37 Gear 38 Solenoid 39,40 Cam 41 Loading device

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A holder for holding a recording medium is vertically held at a first position and a second position via a partition member, and is held downward and over the first position and the second position, respectively. First and second carriers that move upward and downward in a horizontal and vertical direction, wherein the first carrier pushes up a holder locked thereto in a first position, and the holder is overlapped with the first position. Is lifted to lock the uppermost holder to the second carrier, and then the second carrier is moved in a horizontal direction and then moved downward, and the first carrier is moved downward in synchronism therewith. The second carrier is moved in the horizontal direction, and the second carrier is moved downward.
Is locked to the first carrier, and then the first carrier is moved in the horizontal direction and then moved upward, and the second carrier is moved upward in synchronization with the first carrier. After that, the holder is circulated by repeating the operation of moving the holder in the horizontal direction and locking the uppermost holder to the second carrier, and aligning the opening of any holder with the recording medium entrance of the recording / reproducing unit. And a lever is provided rotatably near each of the holders superimposed on the first position and the second position, and is urged by a spring. The lever is rotated by the movement of the held holder, and a projection provided on the lever is configured to engage or disengage with a hole of the holder, and the first position is set when the carrier is separated. Ma Recording medium changer, wherein a holder superimposed on the second position and configured to be retained by the projections of the lever. 2. In order to synchronize the movement of the first and second carriers, the first and second carriers are rotated at a stop position where the carriers are horizontally moved, and the locking claws of the carrier are 2. The recording medium exchange device according to claim 1, wherein the device is configured to prevent interference with the holder. 3. A guide groove for guiding the carrier by engaging with a shaft erected on the second carrier is formed so that a vertical guide groove is continuous with an end of a horizontal guide groove at an intermediate portion between the guide grooves. The carrier is provided with shafts that respectively engage with the horizontal guide grooves and the respective vertical guide grooves, and the axes of the carrier that engages with the vertical guide grooves connected to the ends of the horizontal guide grooves are two adjacent shafts or wide shafts. 3. The recording medium exchange device according to claim 1, wherein the shaft is prevented from dropping into a vertical guide groove connected to the middle of the horizontal guide groove. 4. A guide groove for guiding the carrier by engaging with a shaft erected on the second carrier is formed so that a vertical guide groove is continuous with a tip of a horizontal guide groove and an intermediate portion, respectively. A shaft is provided on the carrier to engage with the horizontal guide groove and each of the vertical guide grooves, and an extension plane flush with the lower surface of the horizontal guide groove is provided outside the entrance of the vertical guide groove connected to the middle of the horizontal guide groove. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the extension plane supports a shaft of the carrier which engages with a vertical guide groove connected to a tip of the horizontal guide groove, so that the shaft is prevented from dropping into a vertical guide groove connected to the middle of the horizontal guide groove. Or 2) a recording medium exchange device.